Compound applying machine



- Nov. 30, 1965 DAY ETAL COMPOUND APPLYING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1962 MN 0 m.

m: mm 0 mm mm Nov. 30, 1965 M. R. DAY ETAL 3,220,376

COMPOUND APPLYING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

Nov. 30, 1965 M. R. DAY ETAL 3,220,376

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United States Patent 3,220,376 COMPDUND APPLYING MACHINE 'Morgan E. Day, North Scituate, and Richard P.'Stolres,

Arlington, Mass, and Andrew A. Patersomflak Park,

Ill., assignors to W. R. Grace & Co., Cambridge, Mass,

a corporation of Connecticut Filed June 28, 1962, Ser. No. 206,052 Claims. (Cl. 1182) This invention relates to a machine for applying gaskets to the covers of pails, and removable head drums. Gaskets for pail and drum covers are commonly formed by the flowed-in process in which streams of a liquid compound are flowed in to the channel which is formed at the periphery of the metal cover. Subsequently, the covers pass into an oven where the liquid components of the compound are evaporated and a solidified gasket which adheres to the walls of the channel is produced.

The objects of the present invention are to avoid the necessity of manually handling the covers; to expedite the operation of applying compound to pail and drum covers to a material extent; to make theoperation an entirely automatic process, and to produce a rugged machine capable of long-time, dependable operation. These, and other objects will become evident from the following specification and from the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a left side elevation of the machine.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the trackway showing the cover positioning controls.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of the machine showing the nozzle elevating and lifting mechanism. (For clarity in illustration, the sheet metal covers which normally enclose this apparatus are not shown.)

FIGURE 4 is a schematic drawing of the wiring, and

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the nozzlesupport bar showing the compressed air-and compound conduits.

The word lining is used in the container industry to denote the operation of applying sealing compound to container closures. It will be so used in the following specification and in the claims. The words lining station will be used to denote the position in the machine where this operation takes place.

Briefly, the machine receives covers from a supply stack and transports them individually along a trackway. As the cover moves along the trackway it is momentarily arrested by releasable stops which hold the cover at a lining station while a pair of pneumatically operated lining nozzles sweep horizontally above the cover around the periphery directing their streams of lining compound into the channel of the cover as the nozzles turn. When sufficient compound has been deposited (in one or more complete turns), the stops are released and the lined cover moves on into a drying oven. Normally, two nozzles are used. One nozzle can be used with a proper counter-balance if the increased time required for the lining operation can be tolerated.

The machine can be adjusted to accept any of a range of cover diameters; for example, the pail cover machine can be set to line any cover from 9 inches to inches in diameter. The adjustment is made by changing the spacing between the trackway siderails and also changing the spacing between the nozzles.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the machine 10 comprises an elongated, rectangular frame formed by side members '11 and 12 and end members 13 and 14, supported by a plurality of legs 15. The end members 13 and 14 of the frame and cross-members 16 support a fiat plate 17 which acts as a table to give firm support to the upper flight of a transport belt 18 which is stretched between drive pulleys 19 and idler pulley 21, which are, respectively, mounted at the opposite ends of the machine. Drive pulley 19 receives its power from the gear head motor 22 which is mounted on the small sub-frame 23. Adjustable idler pulleys 24 and 25, located in the return flight of the belt, are'provided for slack adjustment.

Support stubs 26 projecting upwardly from'the frame are bored adjacent theirupper ends to receive the rail support rods 27. These horizontally adjustable rods supportthe side rail assemblies 28 and 29, which are welded to the inboard ends of rods '2727.

'Each side rail assembly carries an air cylinder 31 and 32, which are pinned on the brackets 33 and 34, respectively. The piston-of cylinder 31 is connected'by a rod and yoke 35'to a pivoted stop 36. Link 37 connects the stop 36 to a crank 38, which is pivoted on the rail. The inner end of the crank is fashioned into a stop finger 39. The piston of cylinder 32 on the opposite side rail 29 is connected directly by the link 41 to asirnilar crank 42, the inner arm of which is similarly formed into 'stop finger 43.

The side rails at the entering end of the'trackway are formed from two flat bars44 and 45, which are hinged on laterally adjustable pivots id-and 47, fastened to plates 48 and 49, at the entering end of the trackway. Turnbuckle 51 pivots on pins '52 and 53, which project above and are fastened to the top surf-ace of the bars, and extends across the trackway above the-path of the covers. Crank arm 54, which is welded to bar 44.,is connected to the piston of an air cylinder 55 by the yoke 56. Cylinder 55 is attached to side-member 12 by the pin 57. Two microswitches, 58 and 59,-the functions of which will be explainedlater, are mounted on rail 29. Their-hinged leaves 61 and 62 project slightly into-the path of covers moving along the trackway.

Compound applying mechanism This mechanism (see FIGURE 3), which is supported by two upright extensions of the frame performs two functions. First, it sweeps the compound nozzles around a horizontal circular path just overlying the sealing periphery of the cover. Second, to prevent the nozzles from striking the lugs on the cover or from hitting any portion of the cover skirt, it lifts the nozzles as the covers approach the lining station and then drops the nozzles as soon as the forward motion of a cover is arrested by the stop fingers 39 and 43 at the lining station.

Shaft '63, which both rotates and reciprocates, is supported by radial bearings fitted in the bearing housings 64 and-65. Each housing is provided with a pair of trunions 6666 and-6767, which engage the links of a parallel motion formed by the upper horizontal links 6868, drop links -6969, and lower horizontal links 71-71. The fixed ends of the horizontal links are journaled on short brackets 72 and 73, which are attached to the plate 74. Plate 74 extends between twin vertical supports 75 and 75.

Shaft 63 is rotated by power derived from the gearhead motor 77, which, preferably, as a safety precaution, is supported on a hinged base 78. Base 78 is pushed outwardly by a spring (notshown). Therefore, should the shaft 63 be stopped by a jam, the spring compresses, releasing the belt 79 from its engagement with the motor pulley 81. The mechanism, in this case, acts as a slipping-belt clutch. Belt 79' carries power from motor pulley 81 to'shaft pulley 82. The shaft 63 is raised and lowered by the air cylinder 83, the lower end of which is pinned'to bracket 72. An extension of its piston rod 85 bears against'the plate 86, which extends between and is fastened to the top horizontal links 68-68.

Shaft 63 incorporates three longitudinal passages. Compound is conducted down its axial bore 87. Two symmetrically positioned bores, 88 and 89, conduct compressed air. The compound and both air supplies enter the shaft through the rotary joint 91, which caps shaft 63. Compound, delivered through flexible conduit 92, enters through the axial connection. Air supplied by conduits 93 and 94 enters through the side inlets 95 and 96 in the rotary joint 91. Inlets 95 and 96 lead into circumferential passages (not shown) and these, in turn, are connected with the bores 88 and 89 by appropriate transverse bores in the shaft.

In this particular design, a difficult deep drilling operation is avoided by terminating the air bores 88 and 89 somewhat below the extent of the rotary joint 91 and then continuing the passages as tubes brazed into diametrically opposite slots 88A and 89A cut in the shaft (see FIGURE 5).

The lower end of shaft 63 carries a horizontal nozzle support bar 97 on which the pneumatically operated needle valve nozzles 98 and 99 are supported by the clamps 101 and 102. Flexible conduits 103 and 104, leading from the T located near the base of the shaft, connect the axial bore 87 to the respective nozzles 98 and 99. A smaller diameter flexible conduit 105, leading from a T located near the base of the shaft, carries the closing air supply to the pneumatic operators of nozzles 98 and 99. Similarly, a conduit 106 carries the opening air supply to the same nozzles.

Compound is led into the axial bore 87 through the conduit 92, which is attached to the top of the rotary joint 91. Flexible conduits 93 and 94 lead air from electropneumatic nozzle control valve 126 to the side inlets 95 and 96 in the rotary joint 91.

Air is supplied to the machine from a factory source which is coupled at 112 to the main machine air line 113. Before reaching the various electropneumatic spool valves which control the operation of the air cylinders, the air supply passes through pressure adjusters and lubricators 114114.

The control wiring is simple. It consists of two manual starters, one of which, 115, controls the conveyor belt motor and the other, 116, controls the spindle motor and also energizes a small transformer 117 which energizes the single phase control circuit.

As the control circuit is energized, electropneumatic spool valve 118 admits air behind the piston of cylinder 55, swinging the pivoted (deflector) section of the trackway guides (bars 44 and 45) into alignment with the trackway.

Adjustments Operation presupposes primary adjustments which are as follows: After setting the trackway side rails to the width demanded by the diameter of the cover, the nozzles are set so that each nozzle discharges compound into the channel of the cover. Thereafter, the proper nozzle adjustments (which are conventional in all lining nozzle operations) are made, i.e. a nozzle tip is selected which has the proper orifice size. The lift of the needle, the head pressure applied to the compound, and the vertical angle at which the nozzles are set are adjusted as required. The machine itself demands only that the timer be set to permit the desired number of turns of lining compound be laid down in the channel.

Circuit operation cover at the lining station moves ahead. The succeeding cover moves into the station. Stop 36 and fingers 39 and 43 instantly return into the fstop position.

The arriving cover trips switch 59. Solenoid valve 125 is energized. Cylinder 83 drops the head. In this lowerd position, switch 124 is closed, completing the circuit through process 'timer 108, which begins its time cycle. Solenoid valve 126 is energized, since internal contacts 198D are now closed. Nozzles 98 and 99 open. Compound is discharged.

At time-out, internal N.C. switch opens. Relay 108R (internal to 108) drops out. Contacts 10813, C, and D open. Contacts 108A close. Solenoid valve 126 reverses, closing'the nozzles 98 and 99. Valve 125 also reverses, raising the head by admitting air to cylinder 83.

The circuit is set for the next cycle, which begins when the next cover touches leaf 61.

Operation To start the machine the main contacts and 116 are closed. Then, either the leaf 61 is flicked or a momentary contact button which may be wired around it is pushed. This, by energizing spool valve 121, momentarily admits air ahead of the pistons in cylinders 31 and 32, and pulls the stop 36 back. The cover which was arrested by the stop 36 then moves down the trackway coming to rest against the fingers 39 and 43, which by that time have moved back into their stop position. As the cover settles against the stops, it trips leaf 62 of switch 59. This energizes spool valve and admits air ahead of the piston in cylinder 83. The nozzles, consequently, drop into lining positions. Slamming is prevented by an air control valve (not shown).

As the piston falls, switch 124 is closed. This starts the process timer 108, which in turn energizes the spool valve 126 to admit air to the nozzle valve operators. The needles consequently lift and the flow of compound into the channel of the cover starts.

When the timer drops out, spool-valve 126 reverses, closing the nozzles 98 and 99. Spool valve 125 also reverses and raises the applicator assembly. Spool valve 121 momentarily admits air ahead of the pistons in the cylinders 31 and 32, pulling the fingers 39' and 43 back and releasing the lined cover which moves on to the dryer. At the same time stop 36 pulls back and the next cover moves ahead.

After start-up, the operation of the machine is automatically repetitive.

We claim:

1. A machine adapted to apply sealing compound to pail and drum covers having a frame, a continuously moving cover carrier comprising an endless belt extending longitudinally between the ends of the frame, power means to move the belt, releasable stop means arranged to arrest the movement of a cover on the belt and thereby establish a lining station despite the forward movement of the belt, power means to rotate a valved nozzle arranged to rotate in a horizontal path above the carrier in the lining station, the said nozzle, means including a tubular rotary shaft to conduct compound to said nozzle, means adjacent the lining station to sense the approach of a cover to that station, time-control means to open and close the nozzle and thereby place a pre-determined quantity of compound on the sealing area of the cover, the said timecontrol means being operative at its time-out to release lined covers from the lining station.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided to raise and to lower the nozzle, and wherein the said means is adapted to lower the nozzle before compound is discharged on the cover, and to raise the nozzle above an interference path with the lugs of a cover subsequent to the cessation of flow of compound through the nozzle and prior to the departure of the cover from the lining station, and maintain the nozzles in the said raised position while the said cover and the entering cover are in motion, actuation of the said raising and lowering means being in response to the arrival of an entering cover at a point closely adjacent the lining station.

3. A machine for applying linings to barrel and pail covers comprising an elongated frame, a longitudinal trackway including side rails surmounting the frame, means to move a succession of covers along the trackway including a carrier belt, drive and idler rolls for the belt mounted at opposite ends of the trackway, power means operatively connected to the drive roll, a lining station on the trackway established by releasable stop means associated with the trackway arranged to arrest the forward motion of covers at the station, means supported above the station for applying compound to the sealing periphery of covers including a plurality of lining nozzles arranged to rotate about an axis normal to the center line of the trackway, means to lift the nozzles to permit entry of a cover into the station and to lower the nozzles into compound delivering position above the cover, and power means to rotate the nozzles, said machine including timing means arranged to control the duration of the fiow of compound from the nozzles, the timing-out of said timing means initiating the release of the trackway stops permitting thereby the lined cover to move out of the lining station and the succeeding cover to move into position at said station, and cover and nozzle position sensing means operatively connected to permit the discharge of compound only when the nozzles are in the lowered position and when a cover is brought to rest beneath the sweep pattern of the nozzles at said station.

4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein the means providing vertically moveable support for the nozzles and shaft comprise vertical extension of the main frame, two upper and two lower links pivoted normal to the extension above and extending over the trackway, drop links pivoted to the moveable ends of the upper and lower links to form a parallel link motion, a bearing housing fastened to the drop links, and an air cylinder supported by said extension having a piston arranged to raise and to lower the links.

5. A machine according to claim 3 wherein the lining nozzles are provided with integrally mounted, air-powered needle valve operators and wherein the vertical shaft supporting the nozzles is formed with an axial passage and two symmetrically positioned, longitudinal passages remote from the axis, a rotary joint at the upper end of the shaft arranged to permit the supply of lining compound through the axial passage and the supply and exhaust of air through the second named passages, the lower ends of all passages terminating in flexible conduits connected to the appropriate air and compound ports of the plurality of lining nozzles supported by the shaft.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,601,625 6/1924 Peterson et al. ll82 X 2,608,177 8/1952 Powers.

2,808,343 10/1957 Simmons 118-631 X 2,907,300 10/1959 Alholm et al.

2,954,585 10/1960 Simpson.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD D. NEVIUS, WILLIAM D. MARTIN,

Examiners. 

1. A MACHINE ADAPTED TO APPLY SEALING COMPOUNDK TO PAIL AND DRUM COVERS HAVING A FRAME, CONTINUOUSLY MOVING COVER CARRIER COMPRISING AN ENDLESS BELT EXTENDING LONGITUNDINALLY BETWEEN THE ENDS OF THE FRAME, POWER MEANS TO MOVE THE BELT, RELEASABLE STOP MEANS ARRANGED TO ARREST THE MOVEMENT OF A COVER ON THE BELT AND THEREBY ESTABLISH A LINING STATION DESPITE THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BELT, POWER MEANS TO ROTATE A VALVED NOZZLE ARRANGED TO ROTATE IN A HORIZONTAL PATH ABOVE THE CARRIER IN THE LINING STATION, THE SAID NOZZLE, MEANS INCLUDING A TUBULAR ROTARY SHAFT TO CONDUCT COMPOUND TO SAID NOZZLE, MEAND ADJACENT THE LINING STATION TO SENSE THE APPROACH OF A COVER TO THAT STATION, TIME-CONTROL MEANS TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE NOZZLE AND THEREBY PLACE A PRE-DETERMINED QUANTITY OF COMPOUND ON THE SEALING AREA OF THE COVER, AND SAID TIMECONTROL MEANS BEING OPERATIVE AT ITS TIME-OUT TO RELEASE LINED COVERS FROM THE LINING STATION. 